Watching A Winning Season?

3 – 0! That’s the Saint’s record three weeks in to the regular season. I know it’s far too early to be making predictions, but who can resist? As a native Louisianian, I anxiously await each football season in hopes that this could be the year our beloved New Orleans Saints might have a winning team, might even make the play offs and, dare I say it: Might even go to the Super Bowl!

You’ve got to admit, the speculation is more substantial this year than perhaps any other season before. We have a legitimate running game, some great receivers, possibly the best QB in the NFL, a strategic, smart coaching staff and a much better defense than the one that cost us our chances for a successful season last year.

We face two undefeated teams the next two weeks and have a fairly difficult schedule throughout the remaining season. The Jets and the Giants both have to come to the dome for their showdown with the Saints and that should give us an advantage. If the Saints get past the Giants week after next, there should be no question about their potential!

I missed the first two games while on our cruise in the Caribbean. The Saints won both of those games, putting over 40 points up on the board in both games. Yesterday’s game began with the Saints opening drive resulting in a touch down. I didn’t get to tune in until after they’d scored and the remaining part of the game that I personally viewed, they struggled and were only able to add an additional field goal. As soon as I turned off the game to drive to a meeting at the church, the Saints scored another 17 points, beating the Bills 27 - 7. Could it be possible that they play better when I’m not watching? What a bummer it would be to have a winning season that could only be possible by my willingness to refuse to watch!

The Cruise

Last week our family enjoyed a 7-day Western Caribbean Cruise aboard Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas. The trip was a gift from our church in celebration of our ten-year anniversary as pastors of Crossroads Church. We had such a wonderful time and we're so grateful for this opportunity.

Our ports of call were in Jamaica, The Grand Caymans, Cozumel Mexico and a little island off the coast of Haiti called Labadee. In Jamaica we enjoyed a thrilling zip line course over the rain forest. In the Caymans we snorkeled over coral reef and a shipwreck. In Labadee we soaked up the sun on pure white sand bordered by sparkling blue ocean. Our favorite excursion was in Cozumel where we swam with dolphins! (What a thrill!)

The Freedom of the Seas is the largest cruise ship in the world (although Royal Caribbean has two larger ships they are introducing to their fleet in 2010). It is complete with an ice skating rink, mini-putt golf course, rock-climbing wall and a surf-simulator that was a BLAST!

The food was good, the shows were incredible and there's not a more restful vacation than cruising.

The best part of it all was seven days with our two teenagers completely uninterrupted by telephones, work, school, emergencies or any other distractions. At this stage of our kid's lives this type of time with them is rare and precious and we enjoyed it SO much!

Thanks to a wonderful church family for blessing our family with this trip!

The Late Show

I am very excited about our new message series for September called "The Late Show." It will be one of the most innovative series we've done. It was actually the brain-child of Eric Treuil and his wife Annabelle says his involvement is a dream come true. (LOL) Through the month of September we'll be discussing, from a Biblical worldview, those things that happen in the late hours of life. In week one we'll talk about end time events, week two will be called The Last Laugh, week three will be a message about regrets and on the last week of the series we'll talk about fruitfulness in the senior years. All of this will be presented within the context of a late night talk show, complete with a floor manager, theme music, monologue, Top Ten Lists, special guest appearances, you name it! For the first time in five years, I'll be wearing a suit and tie to church. (It took a stint as the host of a late night talk show to accomplish this?)

Now we know people come to Crossroads to have a true worship experience so we'll break away from the 'talk show' context to include a time of worship and a message from God's Word. This series will be fun, insightful, inspiring and a great opportunity to invite your friends to Crossroads Church. Get them here before it's too LATE!